Preview: Harlequins v Gloucester

02nd Nov 2012, 12:29

Share:

League leaders: Matt Hopper

Mike Brown starts at full-back for Harlequins in Saturday's Premiership clash with Gloucester at the Stoop.

With three players being released back to Harlequins from the England squad, Mike Brown starts at full-back for Saturday's Premiership clash with Gloucester at the Stoop while George Robson takes his usual place in the second row.

Jordan Turner-Hall has also been released and following consultation with the England management - the centre will undergo a rehabilitation and conditioning programme to allow his knee to settle further - as a result Tom Casson continues at inside centre with Matt Hopper outside him.

Sam Smith replaces Ugo Monye on the wing, while Nick Evans, who signed a new three year contract with the club this week, returns from injury to join Karl Dickson in the half backs.

Mark Lambert starts at loosehead prop while Joe Gray returns from injury to start at hooker. Luke Wallace comes into the back row with Maurie Fa'asavalu and captain, Nick Easter.

Among the replacements, Academy scrum-half Jordan Burns will look to make his first senior appearance.

Meanwhile, Gloucester Director of Rugby Nigel Davies makes four changes from the side that defeated Leicester Tigers last weekend.

Davies makes one injury enforced change with Matt Cox coming in for Sione Kalamafoni on the blindside flank, while Charlie Sharples is away with England and is replaced by Shane Monahan.

The remaining changes see Dan Murphy named as the loose head prop in place of Nick Wood, while Martyn Thomas gets the nod at full-back ahead of Rob Cook. Cook and Wood are both named amongst the replacements.

Gloucester come into the game having defeated the Leicester Tigers last weekend, a hugely physical encounter. However, Davies told the media this week that the training schedule has been tweaked accordingly.

"It hasn't affected our preparations, it's just altered them a little," said Davies.

"We had to give everything against Leicester so we've adjusted things a little and given the players a couple of days off.

"Hopefully, it'll pay dividends for us this weekend. The most important day of the week for us is matchday and, hopefully, we'll be in the right place physically and mentally."

Form: Defending Aviva Premiership Rugby champions Harlequins returned to the top of the table following their 31-28 victory at London Irish on Sunday. Quins tripped up in their last game at the Stoop in the Premiership but have not lost successive home games at the venue in the tournament since May 2011. Gloucester's only defeat so far this season came in the opening weekend at home to Northampton. The Cherry & Whites are the only unbeaten side away from home in Aviva Premiership Rugby this season. The last eleven encounters between the two clubs in the Premiership have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Gloucester's most recent victory at the Twickenham Stoop in the competition was 31-21 on 9 September 2006.